The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tuticorin-Chengalpattu BG line doubling in phases

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Sunday, Nov 05, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tuticorin-Chengalpattu BG line doubling in phases

Special Correspondent

Velu flags off two new train services

NEW SERVICES: R. Velu, Union Minister of State for Railways (second from left), flagging off the Chennai Central- Mangalore super fast express and the Chennai Central-Coimbatore super fast express on Saturday. — Photo:R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: Doubling and electrification of the Tuticorin-Chengalpattu broad gauge line will be done in phases, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said here on Saturday.

Flagging off the Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) and Central-Mangalore (tri-weekly) superfast expresses, Mr. Velu said preliminary work on doubling the Madurai-Dindigul section had begun. Sanction had been given for the Chengalpattu-Villupuram section. Doubling of the remaining stretches between Villupuram-Dindigul and Madurai-Tuticorin was under consideration.

Mr. Velu said doubling of the BG line from Chennai Egmore to Tuticorin had become imperative in view of the growing passenger traffic. Southern Railway had to run special trains during festival and peak seasons on the sector.

He said in the last two years 40 new trains were introduced, services of 20 others extended and frequency of nine trains increased. As the zone was passenger oriented, the Ministry wanted to provide additional amenities. In the current financial year, the zone had been permitted to spend about Rs 40 crore.

Responding to State Transport Minister K.N. Nehru's demand for bullet train services from Chennai to Madurai and Coimbatore, the Minister said a policy decision had to be taken for introducing bullet trains.

Earlier, Mr. Nehru said the State Government would soon introduce feeder bus services from major railway stations in the State for the convenience of passengers from the North.

Demand met

Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese said this was the first time that two new train services were being introduced on the same day. With the introduction of the Chennai Central-Mangalore superfast express, a long-pending demand was met. The new service would provide 1,400 additional berths to Mangalore.

Train no 2681 Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) super fast express will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 p.m. on Saturday and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 a.m. the next day. In the return direction, train no 2682 will leave Coimbatore at 11.30 p.m. on all Fridays and reach Central at 8 a.m. the next day.

Train No 2685 Chennai Central-Mangalore superfast express will leave Central at 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and reach Mangalore at 7.40 a.m. the next day. Train No 2686 will leave Mangalore at 4 pm on all Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and reach Chennai Central at 8 a.m. the next day.

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